How much $$ NOT to let the Valet park the car?

+1

 

I park the car myself. Once they said the needed to have the key in case of emergency (they said is was one of the city ordinance's). After that I went out and bought a $5 Ferrari logo keychain and put a bogus exotic looking key on it. Now I slip them the fake key after I park the car, no discussions

I saw Ferris Bueller's day off....

 

+1 hahaha

I like your style!

 

That's a good idea.

 

I also was a valet, and back in the late 80's $5 was fine. Now I'd say $10-20 depending on the size of the lot. A smaller lot dictates a larger tip, because he has less space. I find that they usually ask if I would like to park it myself, possibly because the Lamborghini's to be intimidating for most. I did know many a valet who would do the Ferris Buhler and I prefer to handle the parking myself, and don't mind paying him for his space.

 

+100 brilliant

 

If you want to enjoy the meal and the company, don't drive a car you care about. Period. Who needs the distraction?

 

I will never use the valet.

 

Because then you can enjoy the meal, the company AND the trip there and back.

 

Interesting about charing you to park on a public street. How is that legal? Do the establishments have a contract with the city/state to "lease" these spots?

 

The tip is for "them" to park your car on a public street.

 

No. Some establishments may have designated parking areas given by the city, but once that fills then it's parked on public streets.

Speaking with a friend who used to do valet - I was told that many times, especially when there is a venue going on and it's difficult to find parking in the city the valet will risk parking where ever they can.

In the case that the car gets a parking ticket, the valet company will pay the cost (although the valet will get in trouble).

Now, I'm not sure if 'will' is the correct word to use, as the valet will most likely take the ticket from the car for customer to not see/complain. But in one case, I was told a car was given a ticket, valet forgot about the ticket he had taken, the driver received a notice to pay in the mail, in which case he had to call the valet company and prove/have them pay for it.

 

depends on where you are. Parking here at the Galleria Mall, its about $5 to park it where you want and you can keep the keys. Most ive paid is about $20 to park in front of Grand Lux, Its funny because I could see how eager the valet was to open the car and try to grab the keys from me. I told him, no sir ill do that myself which I could see he was upset about. I felt kinda bad so I left him a $20.

 

man...all this almost sounds cheap to me for the most part.

in philadelphia valet is at LEAST $18 for top restaurants -- for them to park it. not including tip. i don't know what you'd have to give them to allow you to park it yourself...

 

last saturday took the wife out for bithday dinner in Sacramento,I called ahead to the valet manager and made arrangments to have the car(ferrari 308) parked in front of the resterant,told him I'll be there at 7:30pm. When I got there I asked for the manager parked the car in front and told him I didn't want him to move the car and to watch it for me,we were in the resterant for 3 hours or so and when I came out gave him a $20 tip on top of the $8 valet ticket,it was worth it